How to Make a Fingerpaint Rainbow

Using fingerpaint exposes your toddler to a unique sensory world involving sight, slippery touch and squishy sound as well. Add mint or vanilla extract and excite his sense of smell, too. Fingerpainting also helps your toddler gain fine motor control: Each time his hand moves the way his brain directs or expects, he is closer to fully controlling a paint brush, crayon or pencil.

To make a fingerpaint rainbow, first purchase or make your own fingerpaint. Then, paint each fingertip a different color in the order they appear in the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue or purple. Then, gently guide your toddler's fingers across the paper in a curve. Take a moment to admire and talk about the rainbow with your toddler, then place somewhere safe to dry. After he's made his creation, let him do his own thing with the colors on another sheet of paper.

Tip: Line the table with newspaper or do this activity in a high chair for easy clean-up and use a bib, old shirt or painting smock to keep clothes clean.